"Hey—Nora! Keira!"
Ryen's voice echoed through the cavern as he sprinted toward the familiar figures ahead. Relief washed over his face when the two girls turned at the sound.
They were safe.
Not just them.
Beyond them, the travel club seniors were huddled together, a bit scuffed but unharmed. Behind them, a group of civilians trailed close, their eyes wide but alive. No one looked seriously hurt.
"Is everyone okay?" Ryen asked, scanning the group as he caught his breath.
A quick headcount confirmed it—no casualties. Even the professor and the academy inspector arrived moments later, double-checking each person with sharp, anxious eyes.
But the relief didn't last.
"…Wait." Professor Lena's voice cut through the low murmur of the crowd. Her gaze swept over the gathered faces again, slower this time. "Where's Rin?"
The question dropped like a stone in a still pond.
Inspector Rachel Evans—Rin's older sister—went pale. "Rin isn't here?" Her voice wavered, brittle with panic.
